Selectmen to seek changes in compensation time

Wednesday

SWANSEA — The Board of Selectmen voiced concern about the way compensation time for employees is handled following the retirement of an employee who had accrued 116 days of comp time.

An article on the Special Town Meeting will seek $16,000 to replenish the account of the Town Clerk's office following the retirement of the long time employee.

Selectman Robert Marquis noted that from 1991 to 2003, 758 and a half hours of compensation time had been accrued by the employee, mostly during elections that require longer days for the employees of the office.

He voiced additional concern that the shortfall in the budget has left the office with only two people and a closure of that office on Tuesdays as they try to catch up on work.

Mr. Marquis felt that the comp time should be addressed each fiscal year, pointing out that the payout to the employee was passed on 2011 pay, not over the time she accumulated the time since 1991.

The Selectmen emphasized that they were not singling any employee, but felt that this issue should be addressed by department heads across the board since this particular case brought it to light.

Compensation time can be handled differently by different departments, and are not part of a union contract.

It was noted that the idea around comp time is that it can be recovered through tie off elsewhere.

While Mr. Marquis felt that the comp time should be corrected and paid off each fiscal year, Chairman Kenneth Furtado disagreed, noting that it was not about pay but about getting time off.

Mr. Marquis said that would be fine and should be addressed after the fiscal year rather than accumulated and paid out at the higher future rate.

Chairman Furtado agreed that the board and department head should understand the comp time liability, pointing out that "it could be a large liability looming that none of us know about." Selectman Scott Ventura noted that this was not about the employee, but about the process.

Chairman Furtado said that the town would honor all its commitments to employees.

Mr. Marquis added that the issue needs accrue and that they can concentrate on the management end.

The board members agreed that it was an unfunded liability and they plan to do something about it.

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